These actions followed the TFF’s earlier suspension of 149 referees and assistant referees after uncovering that officials in the country’s professional leagues had placed bets on football matches.

Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency reported that a court ordered the arrest of Eyupspor Chairman Murat Ozkaya along with seven others in connection with the investigation.

Eyupspor did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

In a statement, the TFF announced it had referred 1,024 players from all leagues to the Professional Football Disciplinary Council (PFDK) as part of the probe, including 27 players from the top-tier Super Lig, all of whom have been suspended.

Among those 27 were players from the champions Galatasaray and their Istanbul rivals Besiktas, among others.

"Due to the precautionary referral of 1,024 football players to the PFDK, urgent negotiations have begun with FIFA to allow an additional 15-day transfer and registration window beyond the 2025-2026 winter transfer period, limited to the national level, so clubs can address squad shortages," the TFF stated.

They also announced that matches in the second and third divisions would be suspended for two weeks, while local media reported that the TFF board will hold an extraordinary meeting at 1400 GMT on Tuesday.

FIFA, football’s global governing body, did not immediately reply to Reuters’ request for comment on the investigation or the TFF’s appeal for a 15-day transfer window.

TFF President Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu described the situation as a "moral crisis in Turkish football".

The federation’s own inquiry revealed that 371 out of 571 active referees in Turkey’s professional leagues held betting accounts, with 152 actively placing bets.

One referee had placed 18,227 bets, and 42 referees had wagered on more than 1,000 football matches each, while others were found to have bet only once.